Bangkok: The government is tightening its crackdown on illegal foreign worker smuggling and is implementing regulations on foreign workers, emphasizing that all cases will be arrested without exception. Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukul Prueksanusak revealed that the government, through the Ministry of Labor, is moving forward with the regulation of foreign workers as one of its urgent policies. This is to prevent competition for Thai jobs and illegal unauthorized work, particularly during this period of increased illegal immigration of Cambodian workers along the border. Although security agencies have intensified patrols to prevent illegal entry into Thailand, illegal migrant smuggling continues.
According to Thai News Agency, the government is asking for the public's cooperation in reporting any illegal foreign workers. They can report their location to the Ministry of Labor at the Ministry of Labor hotline at 1506, so that officials can investigate. If found guilty, foreigners working without a work permit or outside their rights will be fined 5,000 to 50,000 baht and deported to their country of origin. Employers who hire illegal foreign workers will be fined 10,000 to 100,000 baht per foreign worker. Repeat offenders face up to one year imprisonment, a fine of 50,000 to 200,000 baht per foreign worker, or both. They will also be banned from hiring foreign workers for three years.
"We request the cooperation of employers and business owners to not hire illegal foreign workers. If you wish to employ foreign workers, please proceed systematically through the MOU process of bringing foreign workers to work with employers in the country. According to the Department of Employment, as of July 2025, there were 4,071,617 foreign workers with work permits throughout the Kingdom. Of these, 197,461 are skilled workers, 99,437 are ethnic minorities, and 3,000 are commuters." Or seasonal 42,274 people (Cambodia 37,043 people, Myanmar 5,231 people), workers who are allowed to come to work according to the MoU 687,405 people (Cambodia 178,240 people, Myanmar 248,320 people, Lao 260,845 people), workers who are allowed to work according to the Cabinet Resolution 24 Sep. 2024 (registered illegally) 1,016,040 people (Cambodia 108,064 people, Myanmar 872,615 people, Lao 28,561 people, Vietnam 6,800 people), and workers according to the Cabinet Resolution 24 Sep. 2024 and the Cabinet Resolution 4 Feb. 202 5 2,029,000 people, of which 180,288 people have received work permits (Cambodia 176,216 people, Lao 3,967 people, Vietnam 105 people) and in the process of processing 1,848,712 people (Cambodia 19,333 people, Myanmar 1,829,379 people)" said Mr. Anukul.